We all know this is a summer of transition for college football and the Big Ten specifically, so naturally we are all prone to looking back just before we move forward. BTN.com has done just that with a look at the best players to play in the old Legends and Leaders divisions.
Since the Badgers won two of the three Big Ten championships with those division alignments it’s only natural UW would dot the roster of the All-Leaders teams. However, the Badgers saw six players make the combined offensive and defensive teams—numbers that trail only Ohio State’s seven players.
Five of the Badgers making the list come on the offensive side of the ball, while just one Badger made the defensive team.
Wisconsin’s offensive list includes Montee Ball, Jared Abbrederis, Jacob Pedersen, Travis Frederick and Ricky Wagner. Defensively, the reigning Big Ten Linebacker and Defensive Player of the Year, Chris Borland, was the lone Badger.
Here are the full teams:
BTN.com’s All-Leaders Offensive Team
QB: Braxton Miller, Ohio State (2011-13). 395-666, 5,292 yards, 52 TD; 557 car., 3,054 yards, 32 TD
RB: Montee Ball, Wisconsin (2011-12). 663 car., 3,753 yards, 55 TD; 34 rec., 378 yards, 6 TD
RB: Carlos Hyde, Ohio State (2011-13). 499 car., 3,057 yards, 37 TD; 34 rec., 271 yards, 4 TD
WR: Allen Robinson, Penn State (2011-13). 177 rec., 2,474 yards, 17 TD
WR: Jared Abbrederis, Wisconsin (2011-13). 182 rec., 2,851 yards, 20 TD; 25 car., 264 yards, 2 TD
TE: Jacob Pedersen, Wisconsin (2011-13). 96 rec., 1,262 yards, 15 TD
C: Matt Stankiewitch, Penn State (2011)
G/C: Travis Frederick, Wisconsin (2011)
G: John Urschel, Penn State (2011-13)
T: Rick Wagner, Wisconsin (2011-12)
T: Jack Mewhort, Ohio State (2011-13)
K: Drew Basil, K, Ohio State (2011-13). 33-40 FG (83%), 169-173 XP
BTN.com’s All-Leaders Defensive Team
DL: Whitney Mercilus, Illinois (2011). 57 tackles, 22.5 TFL, 16 sacks, 9 FF
DL: John Simon, Ohio State (2011-12). 97 tackles, 30.5 TFL, 16 sacks, 7 PD
DL: Devon Still, Penn State (2011). 55 tackles, 17 TFL, 10.5 sacks, 4 PD
DL: Kawann Short, Purdue (2011-12). 97 tackles, 32.5 TFL, 13.5 sacks, 6 PD
LB: Ryan Shazier, Ohio State (2011-13). 317 tackles, 45.5 TFL, 15 sacks, 16 PD, 9 FF
LB: Gerald Hodges, Penn State (2011-12). 215 tackles, 18.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 3 INT, 14 PD, 3 FF
LB: Chris Borland, Wisconsin (2011-13). 355 tackles, 37.5 TFL, 11 sacks, 2 INT, 15 PD, 9 FF
DB: Terry Hawthorne, Illinois (2011-12). 104 tackles, 9 TFL, 1 sack, 4 INT, 18 PD
DB: Bradley Roby, Ohio State (2011-13). 179 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 1 sacks, 8 INT, 41 PD
DB: Ricardo Allen, Purdue (2011-13). 177 tackles, 11 TFL, 2 sacks, 10 INT, 15 PD
DB: Josh Johnson, Purdue (2011-12). 129 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 1 sack, 4 INT, 29 PD, 4 FF
P: Cody Webster, Purdue (2011-13). 185 punts, 7,939 yards, 42.9 AVG
It’s hard to argue that any UW player is missing from that list, especially given the prowess of linebackers and defensive linemen in the league over the last three years. While an argument could be make for Mike Taylor or J.J. Watt, there’s little to quibble with on these lists for me.
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